Potential Energy and the Law of Conservation of Energy
- An object which has kinetic energy can do work on an object.
- a moving van crashes through a fence. It applies a force through a distance to the fence therefore it does work.
- The change in kinetic energy = the work done in these cases
- Therefore kinetic energy can do work or work can change the kinetic energy
- Energy - the ability to do work
- Energy and work are really the same thing
- There are other types of energy besides kinetic energy.
- A rock at the top of a hill has the ability to do work, because it could role down the hill and strike something.
- A compressed or stretched spring has the ability to do work.
- Magnets have an ability to do work by attracting other magnets.
- Potential Energy - Energy due to position or condition.
- Since work and energy are the same thing, we can calculate potential energy (Ep) by calculating the work done to put a system into its position or condition.
- The calculation of Potential energy requires the choosing of a reference point.